People injured in balcony collapse in stable condition

Clair Morton
Journalist
Although I’ve moved around a bit, I’m a Queensland girl at heart with a love of the ocean and the mighty maroons. Since moving to Grafton earlier this year I have fallen in love with the Valley lifestyle. The best part of my job here is getting to know the locals and putting their stories on paper; there is always something going on and so many people with interesting tales to tell.

UPDATE 3.45PM: A spokesperson from the Northern NSW Local Health District said the two males transported to LIsmore Base Hospital after the collapse of a balcony in Clarence St in Yamba last night were now in a stable condition.

The spokesperson said the two other patients, who were transferred to Grafton Base Hospital and Maclean Hospital were not admitted to hospital last night and have been released.

UPDATE 10.30AM: Chief Inspector Shari Allison from Coffs/Clarence Command said police are currently examining the scene of the balcony collapse.

Insp Allison said there were no serious or life threatening injuries.

"Injuries sustained ranged from broken bones to minor cuts and grazes," she said.

More to come.

Collapsed balcony in Yamba.Debrah Novak

UPDATE: Saturday 7:30AM: NSW Police have released an official statement regarding the balcony collapse at Yamba.

They say that eight people have been injured in a balcony collapse in Yamba overnight.

About 8.15pm (Friday 28 April 2017), emergency services were called to Clarence Street, following reports of a structure collapse.

Officers from Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command, along with Fire & Rescue NSW and NSW Ambulance paramedics, attended and found the balcony of a second story building had collapsed at the location.

Eight people were treated for injuries with four people being taken to hospital for further treatment.

A 60-year-old man was airlifted to Lismore Hospital in a stable condition.

Two women, aged 44 and 58, were taken to Grafton Hospital, both in a stable condition.

A 61-year-old man was taken to Maclean Hospital in a stable condition and he has since been discharged.

The structure has been evacuated and will be examined by investigators today.

UPDATE, 10.30PM: A MAN who was on the balcony when it collapsed has described hearing a weird noise about 10 minutes before the accident.

"Someone stood back and we heard this 'cling', like plastic, and thought what's… that?" he said.

"We checked it and the flashing that comes down off the wall onto the deck …. as we walked off about an inch wasn't screwed in, it had been pulled out.

"About 10 minutes later it started a little bit of a shower so we moved back, and it just went whoof, that was it.

"All they did was just move to that particular spot and just collapsed. They just moved, they just dropped."